MART-10, a 1α,25(OH)D Analog, Potently Represses Metastasis of ER Breast Cancer Cells with VEGF-A Overexpression.

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer ranks second in the list of cancer-related deaths for women. Even under multidisciplinary treatment, 25-50% of patients with breast cancer still ultimately develop metastasis, leading to poor prognosis. In addition to inducing angiogenesis, vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) is believed to directly increase cancer cell metastatic potential and overexpression of VEGF-A is associated with higher invasiveness of breast cancer. 1α,25(OH)D, the active form of vitamin D, and its analogs have been widely applied as anticancer agents in the past.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Western blot, migration and invasion assays, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immunofluorescent stain were applied in this study.

RESULT

VEGF-A increased cell migration and invasion in estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer MCF-7 cells. VEGF-A induced an autocrine loop in MCF-7 cells as VEGF-A treatment increased both VEGF-A expression and secretion. The expression of VEGF receptor type 2 (VEGFR2) and neuropilin 1 was also up-regulated by VEGF-A in MCF-7 cells. In addition, F-actin synthesis and LIM domain kinase 1 (LIMK-1) phosphorylation were increased by VEGF-A. VEGF-A also increased β-catenin expression and nuclear translocation of both β-catenin and nuclear factor-ĸB (NF-ĸB), indicating increased β-catenin and NF-ĸB activity. 1α,25(OH)D and MART-10, an analog of 1α,25(OH)D, effectively repressed VEGF-A-induced MCF-7 cell migration and invasion and other VEGF-A-induced effects on MCF-7 cells, with MART-10 being more potent than 1α,25(OH)D Conclusion: MART-10 can be deemed as a promising agent for prevention and treatment of metastasis of ER+ breast cancer with VEGF-A overexpression.